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Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a powerful, evidence-based tool for both understanding and influencing human behavior in individuals, groups, and institutions. With its focus on the social, cognitive, and emotional factors that affect personal economic decisions, it is rapidly gaining attention as an innovative opportunity to help improve consumer choices and behaviors. Leaders in the field include Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, and Richard Thaler, as well as Cass Sunstein, who have published work on building choice architecture to promote certain decisions through “nudges.”

The Vitality Institute supports the use of principles of behavioral economics to promote healthy habits. These include specific behaviors such as smoking cessation, healthier eating and weight loss, and medication adherence through financial incentives, lotteries, choice architecture, and framing.

The Evidence

From the Blog

Conclusions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017

Each year in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum hosts their Annual Meeting. This year’s Annual Meeting had the theme of Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Following my return, I wanted to share my conclusions with... More »

Derek Yach | Jan 24, 2017
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From the Blog

Vitality Group Featured as Health Innovation Leader in New World Economic Forum Report

Vitality Group’s program has been featured as a leading innovator in health in a report by the World Economic Forum. Published in collaboration with Willis Towers Watson, the report was released today at the World... More »

Derek Yach | Jan 19, 2017
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From the Blog

Redefining the unacceptable: Making prevention of disease and promotion of health priorities

Blog post is based on Derek Yach’s TEDx talk in Monte Carlo on November 26, 2016 Governments and businesses spend more than 95% of healthcare costs responding to the consequences of neglected disease prevention and... More »

Derek Yach | Nov 26, 2016
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From the Blog

Canadian Leadership: The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion After 30 Years

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which proposed an international effort to achieve better health for all by 2000, celebrates its 30th anniversary on November 21, 2016. The tactics espoused by the Ottawa Charter, largely... More »

Gillian Christie | Nov 21, 2016
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From the Blog

Improving the Health of Canadians: Vitality Enters Canada with Manulife

In 1946, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Constitution outlined a comprehensive definition of health as: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”... More »

Gillian Christie | Oct 4, 2016
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From the Blog

Wearables Weekly

Wearables Weekly Brought to you by Sarah Kunkle and Gillian Christie, Wearables Weekly is a weekly newsletter highlighting noteworthy stories and leading insights into wearable tracking devices and other personalized health technologies. Please contact gchristie@thevitalitygroup.com... More »

Gillian Christie and Sarah Kunkle | Jun 20, 2016
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From the Blog

Harnessing the Power of Women to Beat Diabetes

April 7 marks the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Day. This year’s theme – Beat Diabetes – comes at a critical time when 415 million people are affected by diabetes worldwide. The campaign aims... More »

Gabriela Seplovich and Adriana Selwyn | Apr 7, 2016
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From the Blog

Incentivizing Healthy Food Choices for Better Health

One year ago today, John Hancock and Vitality embarked on a collaboration to create a whole new type of life insurance: a shared value approach whereby financial benefits from individuals living healthier and longer lives... More »

Adriana Selwyn | Apr 6, 2016
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From the Blog

“Move for Health” – Physical Activity and Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes is a disorder that causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. The most common form of diabetes is Type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes. With this disease, your body does not use... More »

Kristie Willenborg | Apr 5, 2016
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From the Blog

Making Strides: Fitness versus Food Tech

Do you want to track your physical activity? There are countless options for smartwatches and fitness trackers that automatically record your daily steps and workouts. Do you want to track your nutrition? Unfortunately, your options... More »

Sarah Kunkle and Gillian Christie | Mar 29, 2016